Autumn Leaves in Japan: When They Peak and Where to Go
Autumn leaf season (紅葉, koyo) is one of the best times to travel in Japan. The weather is dry and mild, the summer crowds are gone, and maples and ginkgo trees turn red and gold everywhere from mountain passes to city temples. The catch is timing: the color moves across the country over about three months, so where you go depends on when you go.
How the color moves
The leaves turn when nights get cold, so the color starts in the north and in the mountains and works its way south and down to the coast. In a typical year:
- Mid-September to early October: Hokkaido's high mountains, such as Daisetsuzan.
- October: the rest of Hokkaido, the mountains of Tohoku, and high areas of the Japan Alps.
- Late October to mid-November: Nikko, Hakone, the Kiso Valley and other mid-altitude areas.
- Mid-November to early December: Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and most of the big cities.
- Late November to early December: Kyushu and the warmer coasts.
Warm autumns push everything later. Weather services publish foliage forecasts from September, and it is worth checking one about two weeks before your trip.
Red, gold and in between
- Japanese maples (momiji) give the deep reds. They are the trees most temples and gardens are known for.
- Ginkgo (icho) turn bright yellow and line many city avenues. They often peak a little earlier than the maples in the same city.
- Mountain forests mix both with brown oaks and evergreens, which gives the patchwork look of a whole hillside turning at once.
Spots in central Japan worth the trip
Kyoto's temples are famous for good reason, but they are also very crowded in late November. These spots in central Japan are easy to reach and far calmer on weekdays.
Korankei, Aichi
A river gorge in Toyota City with thousands of maples and a red bridge. Peak color is usually mid to late November, and the hillside is lit up every evening of the November festival. See our Korankei guide.
The Agigawa Dam valley, Gifu
Near Ena, the valley below the Agigawa Dam turns red and orange in November, and the road along the lake makes a good scenic drive. Pair it with Ena Gorge nearby.
Tsumago-juku, Nagano
The preserved post town on the old Nakasendo road is beautiful in any season, but late October and early November bring color to the hills around the wooden houses.
Kenrokuen, Kanazawa
One of Japan's three great gardens. Its maples usually color from mid-November to early December, and the first snow ropes go up on the pine trees at about the same time. Read more in our Kanazawa guide.
Tips for leaf season
- Go early in the day. Popular gardens and temples are calmest in the first hour after opening.
- Pick weekdays. Weekend crowds and traffic in peak weeks can be intense, especially near Kyoto.
- Look for light-ups. Many temples and gardens stay open after dark in November with the trees lit up.
- Bring layers. Mornings and evenings get cold quickly, especially in the mountains.
- Book early. Hotels near famous spots fill up for the peak weekends.
On the NipponNavi map, each place shows when it is at its best for your travel month, and the trip check flags any stop you would be visiting out of season.
